• Overcrowded Student Residences at West Coast College: An inspection revealed 378 students living in cramped conditions, with some sleeping on floors due to insufficient beds and storage facilities.
• Inadequate Facilities and Sanitation: Students share limited amenities, including one microwave, two toilets, and two showers for up to 32 students, highlighting poor living standards.
• Financial Struggles and Vulnerability to Exploitation: Many students face unpaid NSFAS allowances, making them susceptible to exploitation by rogue landlords in unsafe and deteriorating buildings.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised alarm over shocking living conditions faced by students at West Coast College in Citrusdal following a recent oversight visit. The inspection found 378 students crammed into overcrowded residences, with some forced to sleep on floors due to a lack of beds and cupboards.

Students are reportedly sharing just one microwave for the entire residence, with only two toilets and two showers serving up to 32 students at a time. The DA also revealed that many learners are struggling with unpaid NSFAS allowances, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by rogue landlords while living in unsafe, deteriorating buildings.

The party has called on the Minister of Higher Education to urgently intervene, ensure accountability, and take steps to improve the living standards of students. According to the DA, these conditions not only compromise the health and safety of learners but also undermine their ability to focus on their studies.

The DA stressed that students deserve to live and study in environments that uphold their dignity, rather than being subjected to degrading conditions that threaten their wellbeing and academic success.

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